2/9/09
2009 NFL Draft E-mails – Browns, Steelers, Tiller
As a diehard browns fan I would like to throw my opinion at you about the Browns second-round pick. I personally think the browns will trade back into the first round (using winslow or wimbley) to get Chris Wells. If not I don’t see them taking a RB in the second when there is a chance an OLB might fall to them, they might also take a WR like Nicks or a center like Unger to train behind Fraley and replace him down the road. If i were going to take a RB there is a big bruiser in the later rounds who would make a good pair with Harrison. Just my personal opinion.
My Response:
There’s a very good chance the Browns take a rush linebacker in the second round… or a receiver… or a center… The bottom line is, Cleveland has tons of needs, and will take the prospect it has ranked highest on its board. We won’t know what that is until Draft Day. But running back will definitely be on their radar, because like receiver and center, it’s a huge need.
If the Steelers don’t take the Best O-lineman available in round 1 I (and Ben Roethlisberger) might pull my hair out… Although you may not be wrong because the Steelers do often go best player available (see Mendenhall & Sweed). And we could use the D-line depth (I want Fili Moala at the end of round 2).
If the draft goes as you have it I’d like to see the Steelers trade down and load up on lineman to see which ones stick. If they can’t trade down I say REACH! Take Troy Kropog or Max Unger.
My Response:
I have the Steelers taking O-Line in rounds 2 and 3. Max Unger would be a horrible fit for the Steelers because he’d have to go up all the nose tackles in the AFC North. He’s a zone-blocking lineman. And Tyson Jackson is a much higher-rated prospect than Troy Kropog. The Steelers have proven in the past that they don’t reach for offensive linemen. I’m just predicted what I think will happen; not what Pittsburgh should do.
Don’t blame Coach Tiller for Purdue’s losing season. That Coach has developed more players in all his years with the football program than you will in your entire life. Coach Tiller never ruined the program at Purdue, he rebuilt it, to an art form. Plus he went out in style, kicking the living s*** out of Indiana. Joe Tiller is goin to the College football hall of fame. You don’t know the first thing about college football. GO BOILERMAKERS!!!!! BOILER THE F*** UP!!!!!!!!!
My Response:
Hilarious e-mail. I really enjoyed it.
Actually, I should thank Joe Tiller. Every time Purdue had a big game, I always bet against them. Tiller had an uncanny ability to choke in big games. He definitely choked in more games than I ever will in my entire life.
At any rate, I was able to enjoy a vacation or two, thanks to Tiller’s ineptness. I’m going to miss him.
Both yourself and Matt McGuire have the Chiefs selecting USC QB Mark Sanchez with the third pick in the draft. I want to say that I respectfully completely disagree with this projection and here is why.
For starters Sanchez has a grand total of I believe 487 pass attempts under his belt at USC and one year of starting experience. Quarterbacks are the position that is the biggest gamble in the draft and the only accurate predictor has been college experience, and even that isn’t a perfect measurement. Sanchez has a high upside but can very easily bust and the Chiefs are in enough trouble as a franchise as it is can they afford to set themselves back that much further by missing on a top 3 QB.
Next, Tyler Thigpen, he played well enough to deserve a chance next season, every QB goes through growing pains and Thigpen had his last season but the turnovers will go down with his progression. Also, consider Pioli’s psyche. He did not draft quarterbacks high, granted he had Bledsoe and Brady but still, him and Belichick built their dynasty by drafting defense.
Pioli has worked in the 3-4 obviously but considering the draft of Glenn Dorsey #5 just a year ago I can’t imagine the Chiefs running a 3-4 next season because Dorsey won’t fit, leaving Aaron Curry as a great pick for a 4-3 defense.
Lastly, with the huge contracts these top three picks get and the high chance Sanchez could bust, the Chiefs owner might be gunshy to invest so much money on someone like Sanchez when Curry is a MUCH safer pick. Add it up and Sanchez is not the Chiefs pick, with Curry as the leading candidate and one of the tackles in 2nd place.
My Response:
Thanks for the e-mail, but I have to disagree.
You say a QB pick is a gamble. Every NFL Draft pick is a gamble. Look at all the offensive linemen who failed. There is no such thing as a safe pick.
I like Thigpen myself, and I think he deserves a shot. Look, if I were managing the Chiefs, I’d let Thigpen go for 2009. But it’s not going to happen. The Chiefs are in a new regime. You have no idea how many Falcon fans e-mailed me last year and said, “There won’t be a QB taken third overall!” Well, it happened. Atlanta had a new regime in place, just like KC.
You can’t look at draft history. For example, the Patriots had never drafted a linebacker high before last April. Lo and behold, they selected Jerod Mayo 10th overall. Why would Pioli draft a QB when he had Bledsoe and Brady? He would be crazy to do so, and if he did, he probably wouldn’t have a job right now.
Belichick built his dynasty with Brady, and surrounded him with a great offensive and defense. Without Brady, there’s nothing. The Patriots couldn’t even make the playoffs this season.
Curry is very unlikely to be drafted third overall. Only one linebacker has been taken in the top three picks since 1998. That guy was a bust (LaVarr Arington). The linebacker position is just not a highly valued position in the NFL, compared to quarterback, offensive tackle and defensive end.
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2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Archive:
2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Home
Post-Round 1 E-mail - April 29
Hate Mail Volume 7 - April 10
Crackhead Mail Volume 2 - April 10
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
Hate Mail Volume 6 - April 3
Crackhead Mail - April 3
Trade and Prospect Speculation - April 3
Hate Mail Volume 5 - March 28
Cam Newton Mailbag - March 28
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
Hate Mail Volume 4 - March 13
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
Random Questions and Comments - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 3 - March 7
Combine Questions and Comments - March 7
Combine Hate Mail - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Quarterbacks - Feb. 15
Hate Mail - Feb. 15
Random AFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15
Random NFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15
2009 NFL Mock Draft
2009 NFL Draft Prospects
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